Euro Travel & More

For those who don’t know this Singapore is my home and me being in Canada doesn’t mean that I don’t know a thing or two about the happenings in Singapore.  The niece who was invited to the launch recently sent me some beautiful pictures of her and her friends – the beautiful people of course – during the launch party.  I asked her if i could use a few of her pictures for this blog – to show you all what a beautiful and amazing place Singapore is.

This is an outdoor pool i think – and the rates are at USD $400 a nite.

The Bayan Tree Resort in Asia must be one of the most luxurious resort I’ve been to – but one wouldn’t expect anything less from the Bayan Tree brand who have been around for many years now.   We were attracted by the spa and massage they offered and the privacy of  your own pool.  Within the resort itself – they had many restaurants and 24 hrs room service – if you don’t want to get out of your room.  There were  massage tables in the privacy of your own room or even if you were to set out on the private beaches in Phuket – you an see many canopy of rooms with massage tables all around  – it’s like we’ve gone to heaven.

Private pools in each room that faces the sea and you can have your breakfast, lunch and dinner here.   In some suites – in know they even have an LCD TV right by the pool and the jacuzzi.

Breath-taking view of another of our friends room.

Enjoy and relax under luscious coconut trees.

And a scented bath before your massage – to end your day.

For those who have never been to Malaysia – the rustic part of Malaysia is usually the best part – not only do you really get to feel and experience the real culture of the Malaysians – one get to try out the famous durian – king of fruits – by the roadside.  You don’t see this very often in Kuala Lumpur but if you travel further into Malaysia like Batu Ferringhi – you will see many of these stores around – and these are the most awesome places to eat.  Don’t be deceived by the dirty looking environment – because they are not only cheap but they have the best durian here.

Some awesome view after taking the windy and spiral road up to Batu Ferringhi.

Welcome to Saigon !  the spouse said to me when we visited Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City aka Vietnam for a short trip some 6 months ago.  It had been more than 10 yrs since we last visited Saigon and the last time i was there was also for work.  Saigon the land of many opportunities and lot of history – the good, the bad and some ugly.  Where the ladies I’ve seen are the most hardworking people and the humblest and in my humble opinion in need of good wrinkle removers because the sun is so hard on them.  But they smile and tell me each wrinkle lines tells a story.

Saigon has changed a lot – just by looking at all the high rise building and everywhere our cabbie turned – there was another new building sprouting out.  I felt a little overwhelmed when i came back for this trip with the spouse who was on business.

Dong are what they are called – the currency used in Saigon – and 100,000 Dong is about $5.45 in Cdn.  Yes – lots of money to carry – the same for when you are in Thailand or China even a bit of Malaysia – where the currency seems so big and huge but the value is so little.

Many of their older buildings are now restored and used as restaurants.

Shophouses on the ground floor and on the top are living apartments – a lot of expatriates lives here because it is in the center of town and convenient – i hear that rent isn’t that expensive in this area as compared to the rent in Hong Kong.

Road side eateries are my favorite but i strongly advise against if you do not have a strong stomach.  Food is like $0.20 – $0.50 for a meal in this store.

Karaoke anyone?

Shop houses for eating like this one is everywhere in Saigon and they are relatively cleaner although more expensive than the roadside stores.  But if you want authentic Vietnamese food – here is the best bet.

We tried the more posh restaurant -  located at Nguyen Thiep Street, District 1 – and wasn’t disappointed – love the fusion decor and the fusion food too.

Love the fruit stores !  missed this terribly because they don’t have it here in Canada.

Some local fruit – i don’t remember what it is called – but it’s a cross between a mandarin orange and a lemon – taste sweet though.

More street store with sweets/desserts.

Yes! saigon is this modern – they have an Esprit building – just for shopping at  Dong Khoi street, also in District 1.  The entire ground floor is for shopping and the upper building are offices.  I have so many pictures to share but that will be for another day and another post.

Feeling a little nostalgia and also mostly because I’m missing home a lot lately – the cousin sent me some recent pictures of Chinatown from home.  And home is not in China – where most people here in Canada thinks i am.  I guess – when they see a Chinese – they just assume we are all from China – hahaa!  but just like the Westerners thinks we all look alike, the Westerners look very much the same to me too – unless they are people I know very well.  So when i was reading about  herbal phentermine one day and a customer walked in asking about something – i had mistaken her for the spouse’s cousin – hahah!

Truth be told – i rarely go to Chinatown when i was home – i never really appreciate the beautiful and restored buildings but as you can see – they are very beautiful building and the government of Singapore tried to make every inch of Singapore look as beautiful as possible for both the tourist as well as the residents in Singapore.

Some people only goes there once a year for Chinese New Year but many older folks i know goes there every morning for a brief walk – a – bout and then coffee in the clans near the temple.

It is very interesting to see the many temples in Singapore – but i never go – because my mum wasn’t a believer and she never really allowed us to go into temples.  How i wished i could turn the clock around and won’t take these beautiful statues for granted.

The inside of the temple as you can see – is very beautiful as well.  In Chinatown, they not only have temples for the Chinese but mosques as well for the Muslims.

I’ve walked this passageway before – i hope soon – i can bring my kids home with me.

Yes.. a trip down memory lane for me when my best friend was just in Macau and brought back some wonderful pictures.  Macau was one of the many places that were on my first year’s trip out of Singapore and while reading about apidexin scam the pictures kept coming in and i thought i should look for some to post them up.

Macau has changed a lot since the last time i was there some 15 yrs ago – but one thing that never changed are the many casinos there – in fact i hear there are more now.   Anyone who have been to Macau would recognized the Grand Lisboa – i had stayed here when I was in Macau.  The 400 luxurious rooms were huge and it wasn’t really expensive either – I’m guessing they hope you leave the rest of your money in the casino as well.  Don’t forget to check out their famous Lotus Pond in the hotel’s lobby.

Yes – there you have it – the casino of course.

A gigantic statue of Guan Yin (that wasn’t there when i visited last)

The Museum of Macau is all about the history of Macau – it’s up on a hill of a 16th century fort – check out the canons and artillery they used back then.

The famous Ruins of St Paul’s – how can anyone miss that right – even if i were to go there every year i would want a picture of the Ruins. Many movies and tv shows were filmed here.

Signs everywhere now.

The Pou Tai Un Temple in Taipa.

The Observation Tower in Macau – also known as the Macau Tower

Up at the Observation Tower – you not only see the awesome views of the entire Macau, you can dine there – watch a show there, shop and of course go for a thrilling walk on the Skywalk – where you walk on glass flooring.

Here I leave you with one of the views of the Macau Tower – both day and night views are different – just like in Paris. By the way – Stanley Ho the owner of the many casinos in Macau – almost all – was in Auckland when he saw the Sky Tower there that he commissioned a similar one to be built in Macau.  The work started in 1998 and opened for the first time in 2001.  Like i said – i have many stories to tell about Macau – next would be the things you can buy and eat in Macau.

When we were in Korea many years ago, well – when i was a kid – i went with the church to the prayer mountain – what a waste of time then.  We didn’t really get to see very much then – but when I was much older and a girlfriend showed me all the Louis Vuitton handbags she got from Korea – i told myself, I had to go there for sure.  So when i was posted there for a meeting for carpark meters some years ago – i was darn happy.

Besides the normal shopping and touristy places and drinking holes that we went to – we also had to see the world’s largest indoor theme park – Lotte World of course!   We should have taken the subway but instead a co-worker there drove us and we ended up using roadside assistance because his car broke down.

Lotte World reminds me a lot about DisneyLand and Sanrio World and you can find a theme park hotel, a museum, many shopping malls and monorail, movie theatre and lots more – both adults and kids will enjoy this place.  We spent like 6 hrs in the theme park and never even finished all the rides.

Opens as early as 9.30am and closes at 11pm – we only waited for the fireworks to end and left – but if you go after 5pm – entrance fees are cheaper.

Pretty magical eh.

Don’t forget to try the Gyro Drop !  It’s awesome awesome!  a great view from the top but hold on tight when you are coming down.   The drop is about 400 feet down and it was really breath-taking – or rather – you can’t breathe.

We all love the carousel but we were too shy to go on it – but some of our co-workers did and made a fool of themselves.

The Peak in Hong Kong definitely has the most magnificent view of all of Hong Kong.  I used to go to Hong Kong a few times a year and I see there had been changes of late in Hong Kong and The Peak has also changed a lot too.   While looking for ipad warranty in Hong Kong, a friend also told me about the many restaurants up at The Peak these days.   We all know that while traveling, eating good food is one of the most important part of a travel, so I’m pleased to let you know that have all sorts to cater to just about everyone – from Burger King (they never had that when i visited them last) to Kyo Hachi Japanese Restaurant – dining with a view.

So how did I get to The Peak ?  we drove up there since we had friends and co – workers in Hong Kong but we never fail toi take the famous Tram down the Peak.  It was really fun but awfully crowded if you asked me.  But make sure you go at a time where it isn’t the summer holiday for the kids because the Peak is not only for the tourists – local residents go to the Peak all the time.

Don’t forget to go to Madame Tussauds – at about HK$160 for entrance fees.  You can also do some shopping although I don’t remember buying much there.  Oh ! i did get a Giordano t-shirts and stuff – Oh ! i so miss Giordano!!   They also have a Swarovski store too now! Mann!! i need to go back to Hong Kong for a visit.  Anyhow, Hong Kong is a wonderful place, I could spend days there – and I really missed it – if you haven’t been to Hong Kong – you have to go there for sure – if you are traveling around Asia.

Need I say more?  hhaha!! i know! i know! i was just teasing you but Mak Noodles were awarded the Michelin Restaurant in 2009 and 2010 – now that must say something to all of you even if you are not a foodie.  Well, I love food and so does all my friends and Mak Noodles is a place you must not miss for authentic noodles. I think they have several locations but the one I am used to going is the one in Central area.  But they have one at the Peak now – so if you are at The Peak – you can try the restaurant there.

Love the wanton alone – highly recommended because the meat is fresh and they have crunchy chestnuts in them.  Love the clear soup as well and I can go on and on about the food but I shall stop here because you will never hear the end of my food experiences.

The Sutera Harbour Resort is located in Sabah, Kota Kinabalu – it is a huge property with wireless internet surrounding the entire resort.  The resort is located about 15 mins away from the airport and it’s is so central – i like it that I can get out of the resort and go to the heart of the city within minutes.

The resort was very crowded but surprisingly – people leave you alone to do your own thing – like sitting in a cabana and enjoying a view.

Love all the island – surrounding the resort – look how peaceful it was.

Yay!! a sunset bar !! for those who needs a cocktail!

Love the surrounding ! so peaceful!